Best kind of IUD? (there are 13 kinds available in the UK)

[ecat99]

Hello!
I want to get an IUD (have 3 DC) and I know there are 13 kinds of copper (non-hormonal) IUD available in the UK (see list below). The nurse who fits them at my GP practice could not answer my question on how these 13 differ and whether any of them are better than the others. Does anyone know if any one type is better in terms of side-effects? Would 5-year one have fewer side effects? What about U shaped vs T shaped vs GyneFix? I also know that some European countries started using IUDs with a gold core which are more resistant to corrosion and supposedly are better. Finally a new type of IUD - intrauterine ball - a 3D spherical IUD that can't perforate anything and has much lower probability of falling out. Not sure whether it is available in the UK yet.
Thank you

In the UK there are currently 13 types of IUD available:
The Flexi-T 300. T shaped. Lasts five years.
The Flexi-T 380. Similar to the one above, but for slightly larger wombs. Lasts five years.
The GyneFix. Different from the rest, because it isn't T-shaped and just consists of six copper tubes on a polypropylene thread. Lasts five years.
The Load 375. U-shaped. Lasts five years.
The Multiload Cu 375. Lasts five years.
The Nova-T 380. Copper and silver. Lasts five years.
The T-Safe 380A QL. Yet another T shape. Manufacturers say it lasts 10 years.
The TT380 Slimline. Currently intended to last 10 years.
The Mini TT380 Slimline. For smaller wombs. Lasts five years
The UT 380 Short. For the shorter womb. Lasts five years.
The UT 380 Standard. For the larger womb. Lasts five years.
The Multi-Safe 375. Lasts five years.
The Neo-Safe T380. Last five years.

[ilovepowerhoop]

also on the page you copied from:

To be honest, it's rare for a woman to pick her own IUD, unless she's a nurse or doctor or perhaps a scientist who knows a lot about these devices.

So in practice, the IUD which you are given will depend very much on which brands the clinic or surgery currently has available and also on which types the doctor has been trained to insert.

(i.e. they will have a limited selection to choose from so you probably wont get to pick and choose from the full list)

[Fraxinus]

Agree, it's not like you are offered a choice, although I respect you for researching it and requesting a choice. My nova t settled much faster than the 10 yr one I have now. Hth.

[ecat99]

I started looking into this because the nurse who inserts these had no idea why they use the one they use and also she never checked me - supposedly they come in different sizes depending on your womb. I mean, its something I have to live with for the next 10 years, so it seems to warrant a bit of a research. Imagine they used the same approach to shoes - "that's the only pair we sell, so it will be uncomfortable at first, but after a few months will feel better" :)

After a bit more research, I found out that GyneFix and especially GyneFix mini does not make your periods heavier. So it's a great choice for someone who has heavy periods to begin with. But they don't insert it at my surgery, so will try a family planning clinic.

[Fraxinus]

Good luck! I really hope you get what you want. I want mine out .

[TheYamiOfYawn]

When my 10 year T fell out after several months of bad period pains, the family planning clinic doctor switched to a smaller 5 year one. I think their policy wad that if my body was happy with a 10 year one, then the fact that it lasted so long was an advantage, but it turned out that I suited a different type better.

Talk it through at the family planning clinic - they ate best placed to answer your questions.

[Auntfini]

When I had mine fitted the doctor said they would place a ten year one if possible, but if it wasn't (size of womb, whatever), they'd put a 5 year one in. I got the nova t380, I only know that as I have still got the leaflet. i never thought any more about it

[ilonasn]

My daughter, now 25, was told that they don’t have a small enough non-hormonal IUD and fitted her with a hormonal release type IUD instead. It is effecting her adversely and she is now considering tubal ligation. There must be a non-hormonal IUD available that is the same size as the hormonal one. What can she do to have one of those instead? Will it be necessary to see a private doctor about this instead of the nhs. Supposedly the nhs offers 13 different sizes but she was never informed of this and has been struggling for years now. Why make someone’s live such hell when there are other options that one had requested. The side effects are seriously damaging.